Smart spoke to reporters ahead of the Celtics' Game 4 clash in Milwaukee, where they will attempt to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. He has been cleared for all basketball action aside from playing with full contact.

Meeting with the doctor in New York could allow him to clear the last hurdle.

"The surgery did its job," Smarttold reporters. "Thumb is holding up well. I feel ready, I feel strong enough to get back out there. I'm just waiting on the okay."

Smart, 24, suffered a torn tendon in his thumb in a March 11 loss to the Indiana Pacers. He will miss his 19th straight game Sunday.

Boston has managed to stay afloat with him out of the lineup but is playing without Smart, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. The string of injuries has made the margin for error close as evidenced by the Celtics' embarrassing 116-92 loss in Game 2.

Smart won't do much to replace the offense lost due to the absence of Irving and Hayward, but he will bring them closer to being an elite defensive team capable of pushing a team in Round 2. Or, at the very least, getting past the upstart Bucks.